The UK’s biggest grocer described the move as “one of the most revolutionary retailing improvements in decades” which would give customers access to a host of information about products via their smartphones.

QR codes will be applied to the packaging of 13 lines of Tesco’s own-brand sausages including Tesco Pork Sausages, Tesco Pork Chipolatas, Tesco British Pork Sausage Meat as well as British Cumberland Sausages and British Lincolnshire Sausages.

The codes can be used to provide additional product information to customers such as nutritional content, with shoppers being able to use them to access recipes and competitions.

(Image: PA Wire)

Tesco said adopting the new codes would give it better information about products in stores, helping it to order more accurately and improve efficiency, reducing unnecessary waste.

In the event of product recalls, QR codes will allow retailers to identify specific batches instead of removing all items, avoiding throwing products away unnecessarily and improving availability.

Retailers will also be able to block the sale of affected items at the till and contact customers who may have purchased them.

It is part of a wider industry shift led by GS1, the global body responsible for barcode standards, which has set a target for retailers and manufacturers to be ready to accept QR codes.

Tesco development and change director Peter Draper said: “For customers, this is a tiny and almost invisible change at the checkout, but for the retail industry it’s a significant step forward.

“Moving to QR codes will help us reduce food waste, improve stock control and unlock new digital benefits for our customers.

(Image: PA Wire)

“Customers will continue to shop and pay in exactly the same way, but they’ll have the option to access far richer information about the products they buy simply by using their smartphones.

“Over time, this opens up exciting possibilities, such as personalised digital tools to help customers manage the food they buy and reduce waste at home.”

Anne Godfrey, chief executive of GS1 UK, added: “Tesco moving to QR codes powered by GS1 across an entire range marks a significant step forward for UK retail.

“It shows how the next generation of barcodes can support a more connected, transparent future. We hope this progress encourages others to follow Tesco’s lead so that consumers and businesses alike can benefit from richer, more trusted product information.”

The 2026 World Snooker Championship gets underway this weekend as 32 of the planet’s finest cueists battle it out for the famous old trophy.

Zhao Xintong became China’s first world champion a year ago and he returns as the favourite to conquer the Crucible again.

No one has ever defended their first world title at the Sheffield theatre, with the Crucible curse lingering on, but many fancy Zhao to be the man to break it.

He is taking on a strong field as he tries to do that, with eight other former champions returning to South Yorkshire this year.

There are also four debutants, who will be excitedly skipping through the doors of the Crucible this month, with two young English stars among them in Liam Pullen and Stan Moody.

Here are all 32 players who will play at the Crucible ranked by their current form. How long form lasts is up for debate, but this has been judged on the last four events: the Players Championship, Welsh Open, World Open and Tour Championship.

Are you snooker loopy?

You’re in the right place. I’m Phil Haigh, and I cover the game we all love for Metro.

In my new newsletter, The Table, I’ll be analysing the biggest talking points, breaking down frames and crowning the week’s winners and losers every Monday.

Advertisement

The World Championship is here, so there’s no better time to sign up.

The 16 qualifiers have the advantage of already playing in the World Championship, so their wins in qualifying are also taken into account.

32. Ding Junhui

The Chinese legend comes in as the 16th seed but he only just clung on to his guaranteed spot at the Crucible after a very quiet time.

He didn’t qualify for the 16-man Players Championship or 12-man Tour Championship, didn’t enter the Welsh and lost his first round at the World Open. Last time he won a match was December 4 against Scott Donaldson at the UK Championship.

31. Si Jiahui

Another top 16 player who was vying for bottom place on this list is Si Jiahui, who also hasn’t won a match over the last four tournaments, losing his openers at the Welsh and the World Open.

The 23-year-old has won matches a bit more recently than Ding, though, at the Championship League, World Grand Prix and German Masters this year.

30. Ali Carter

The Captain has been forced out of some events this season, due to ill health and off-table issues, so his form has been tricky to judge.

He had disappointing Welsh and World Open campaigns, but showed something in qualifying to beat Julien Leclercq and Anthony McGill.

29. He Guoqiang

There will be plenty of attention on debutant He Guoqiang when he takes on Ronnie O’Sullivan in his opener on Tuesday and he was impressive in qualifying to book his first Crucible trip.

Wins over Jack Lisowski and Long Zehuang got him through the qualifiers, but his only other victory of late was a 5-4 win over Iran’s Amir Sarkosh in the World Open.

28. Lei Peifan

Another player with little form behind them coming into the qualifiers, Lei Peifan made light work of Jordan Brown and Ryan Day to get to the Crucible.

However, he had just a win over Polish teenager Michal Szubarczyk in the four events leading up to Sheffield.

27. Matthew Stevens

The 48-year-old is back at the Crucible for the first time in four years after beating Peter Lines and Stuart Bingham in qualifying, the latter an impressive win against the odds.

He had not done a lot before Sheffield, losing early in the Welsh and World Opens and being a long way from reaching the limited field events.

26. Fan Zhengyi

It has been a poor season for Fan Zhengyi, but could end well after three good wins in the qualifiers over Lan Yuhao, Jimmy Robertson and Ben Mertens.

He looked really strong at the English Institute of Sport after a lean spell which saw just one win in the Welsh over the last two months.

25. Dave Gilbert

The Angry Farmer won just one match at the Welsh and World Opens, but didn’t lose in Yushan, he withdrew before his meeting with Matt Selt.

The two-time Crucible semi-finalist beat Irish pair Leone Crowley and Aaron Hill in qualifying.

24. Pang Junxu

We haven’t seen a lot of Pang of late, winning once at the Welsh ahead of the World Championship qualifiers.

He did well to reach the Crucible with narrow wins over Welsh duo Dylan Emery and Jackson Page.

23. Liam Highfield

The 35-year-old won four matches in qualifying and did so impressively, beating Oliver Brown 10-4, Wang Yuchen 10-4, Stephen Maguire 10-5 and Oliver Lines 10-2.

He also won a couple of games in the Welsh before losing to John Higgins, which is clearly no disgrace.

22. Antoni Kowalski

The Polish Crucible debutant won matches at the Welsh and the World Open, then needed to win three in qualifying for Sheffield to keep hold of his professional status.

He did just that, thrashing Connor Benzey, before impressive wins over Joe O’Connor and Jamie Jones.

21. Jak Jones

The 2024 Crucible finalist made short work of a tough qualifying section, beating Marco Fu and Luca Brecel.

He won a couple of matches in Wales before narrowly losing to Neil Robertson and pulled out of the World Open due to illness after winning his qualifier.

20. Kyren Wilson

Winning the Masters and Shanghai Masters means Kyren Wilson has had a very profitable season, but he has been disappointing in ranking events, meaning he didn’t make the Players or Tour.

One win in the Welsh and three in the World Open were a couple more underwhelming returns.

19. Stan Moody

The 19-year-old won two matches at both the Welsh and World Open, including a brilliant win over John Higgins in Yushan.

Two victories at the English Institute of Sport took him to the Crucible, matches won despite suffering with tonsilitis and making a trip to hospital between the wins.

18. Liam Pullen

Arguably the star of the qualifiers, Liam Pullen won four matches to book a Crucible debut, beating Alfie Burden, Amir Sarkosh and then two Thai stars in Thepchaiya Un-Nooh and Noppon Saengkham.

There were also three good wins at the Welsh over Ken Doherty, Rob Milkins and Chris Wakelin.

17. Xiao Guodong

The first on this list to qualify for the Players Championship, but Xiao lost his opener in Telford.

He won once at the Welsh and twice at the World Open, but it has been a pretty lean spell after a World Grand Prix semi-final in February.

16. Mark Selby

A brilliant mid-season purple patch has turned a little less purple of late due to early losses in the Players Championship, Welsh Open and Tour Championship, while Selby pulled out of Yushan.

That leaves him with two match wins in his last four tournaments, which is a dip after winning the UK Championship and Champion of Champions earlier in the campaign.

15. Mark Williams

An opening win at the Players Championship over Barry Hawkins was a good one, but there hasn’t been loads else to shout about of late for Williams.

It has been a good season, hence qualifying for the Tour Championship, but he lost his opener there to John Higgins. A couple of wins each at the Welsh and World Open.

14. Chris Wakelin

Deep runs have not been coming of late for Wakelin, but he won his opening matches at both the Players Championship and Tour Championship, which takes some doing. Just being in those events is impressive enough.

He withdrew from Yushan and lost early in Wales, but beating Xiao Guodong in Telford and Wu Yize in Manchester were good wins.

13. Gary Wilson

A run to the quarter-finals of the World Open was an encouraging sign for Gary Wilson ahead of Sheffield, beating world champ Zhao Xintong in the last 16.

Two wins in qualifying got him to the Crucible and gives him the chance to end an up-and-down season well.

12. Hossein Vafaei

Another World Open quarter-finalist, Vafaei beat both Mark Williams and Zhang Anda in Yushan.

His only defeats in the last two months have come to Neil Robertson and Judd Trump. The Iranian looked excellent in qualifying, heavily beating Michal Szubarczyk and Gao Yang.

11. Zhou Yuelong

It has been a good season for Zhou, including a quarter-final run at the Welsh Open and last 16 at the World Open, although he lost 6-0 to Judd Trump in his Players Championship opener.

The Jumping Dragon breezed through qualifying, beating Robbie McGuigan 10-3 and Michael Holt 10-4.

10. Zhang Anda

Last 16 runs at the Welsh and World Open were both solid results, while Zhang also reached the Players Championship but lost early to Shaun Murphy.

He looked superb in qualifying, especially with five centuries in his 10-3 win over Zak Surety.

9. Shaun Murphy

Murphy’s last outing was a 10-9 defeat to Judd Trump at the Tour Championship, having also been in the quarter-finals of the Players.

The Welsh Open campaign ended thanks to an absurdly good performance from Chang Bingyu, while he was beaten by an on-song Ronnie O’Sullivan in Yushan.

8. Neil Robertson

A Welsh Open quarter-final and Tour Championship semi-final look encouraging for Robertson.

He lost early in Telford to John Higgins and didn’t play in Yushan.

7. Mark Allen

It has been a strange season for the Pistol but he will have been buoyed by runs to the Players Championship semis and World Open quarters of late.

Victories over Mark Selby, Wu Yize, Zhou Yuelong and Jack Lisowski were in those runs, but an early defeat to David Grace at the Welsh was an example of his inconsistency.

6. Wu Yize

Semi-finals of the Welsh and World Open for Wu Yize were both very good efforts, only losing a decider to Ronnie O’Sullivan in Yushan and 6-4 to Barry Hawkins in Llandudno.

He was poor in both his Players and Tour Championship opening losses, especially in a concerning collapse against Wakelin in Manchester.

5. Ronnie O’Sullivan

The Rocket has crept high up this list considering he only played in one of the counting events, but he looked immense on his run to the final of the World Open, making a record break of 153 along the way, only a losing to an inspired Thepchaiya Un-Nooh.

Away from the main tour he also won the Snooker 900 John Virgo Trophy this month, which counts for little but will have done his confidence no harm.

4. Barry Hawkins

One of only two players on this list to have won one of the four most recent tournaments, seen as World Open champ Thepchaiya Un-Nooh did not qualify.

The Hawk brilliantly won the Welsh Open, with victories over the likes of Mark Williams, Neil Robertson and Wu Yize before Jack Lisowski in the final. He also beat Thepchaiya in his Manchester opener.

3. John Higgins

Just shy of his 51st birthday, Higgins has been remarkably consistent, with runs to the Players Championship final, along with Welsh and Tour Championship semis.

A 5-4 loss to Moody in Yushan was his only early exit of late.

2. Judd Trump

The world number one might be struggling to land silverware at the minute but he is consistently going deep.

Players Championship semi, World Open semi and Tour Championship final, while he did not enter the Welsh. It’s really good.

1. Zhao Xintong

The number one was always going to be this man, with Zhao winning both the Players Championship and Tour Championship of late, both in fine style, while he also landed the World Grand Prix in February.

The world champion beat the likes of Shaun Murphy, Mark Allen, John Higgins (twice), Chris Wakelin and Judd Trump on his way to his two most recent successes.

He made the last 16 of the Welsh and World Open as well, in what has been a stunning spell for the Cyclone.

MORE: Mark Williams suggests even wilder naked forfeit if he wins World Snooker Championship

MORE: Shaun Murphy hits out at Ronnie O’Sullivan and Judd Trump for Crucible no-shows

MORE: Snooker’s Crucible romance stirs emotion in clinical sporting landscape

The Argos Home 30m 3 Arm Outdoor Washing Line has been described as ‘brilliant’ and ‘exactly what I needed’ by shoppers

With sunnier weather and longer evenings finally upon us, it brings welcome respite from damp laundry draped across radiators throughout the winter period. While unsightly, this practice can also harm properties, with the additional indoor moisture contributing to issues such as damp and condensation.

This explains why many feel relieved when temperatures climb to reasonable levels again, allowing clothes to be dried outside. However, let’s be honest, splashing out on a washing line represents a rather uninspiring, yet necessary expense.

Shoppers will be delighted to discover that a budget-friendly offer means securing one from Argos currently for under £1. The item concerned is the Argos Home 30m 3 Arm Outdoor Washing Line which normally retails at £16.

READ NEXT:

Nevertheless, purchasing it through the money-saving platform TopCashback can reduce the cost to just pennies. New members who register here receive £15 cashback when spending £15 or above at a participating store.

This means that for fresh TopCashback members and new Argos shoppers the washing line will amount to 85p once cashback is factored in. For current Argos customers it will cost marginally more, 87p following cashback.

TopCashback

£0

TopCashback

Advertisement

Buy Now on TopCashback

New TopCashback users can get £15 cashback when they spend more than £15.

The price encompasses free click and collect, while standard delivery starts from £3.95. The Argos washing line incorporates an umbrella design and offers 30m of drying capacity, which the retailer claims can accommodate two washing loads.

Customer feedback has been largely favourable, with the 97 reviews achieving an average of 4.6 stars out of five, reports Wales Online. One commented: “Exactly what I needed to replace an old one. Great price too so really pleased. Quick and easy system to pay and collect.”

Another added: “All good so far. Very good price and easy enough to set up. Seems to be reasonably sturdy.”

A third remarked: “I bought this for my small garden after I just moved. Just what I needed.”

Meanwhile a fourth stated: “A brilliant product for an excellent price. Plenty of hanging space and I like that it came with a spike for fixing into the ground.”

While the majority of responses were complimentary, some limitations were highlighted, including one purchaser who awarded three stars, noting: “Relatively small and lightweight and probably needs additional spike. Adequate for small loads.” Another described it as ‘cheap and cheerful’.

Amazon offers numerous alternatives for outdoor clothes drying. For those seeking a more compact solution, the Minky Retractable Duo Reel Washing Line represents a dependable option. Priced at £19, it features two 15m lines that conveniently retract when not required.

Dunelm stocks various alternatives too, including the Rotary Outdoor Airer 4. That costs more at £48 (reduced from £60), but it provides 60m of drying capacity.

How to bag the washing line for less through TopCashback

• Sign up as a new member at TopCashback for free via this link.
• Search for Argos on the site, click through and buy the item normally.
• Get £15 cashback when you spend £15 or more on an item.
• The cashback will track to the TopCashback ‘Earnings page’ within seven days of purchase.

Lorraine Hughes said the data, which shows that one in four children aged five has decay, is “a concern”. 

One of the main reasons for hospital admissions among children in Darlington is poor oral health, with tooth extraction related to tooth decay being the most performed surgery.

Yet Ms Hughes told a council meeting that it is preventable and several schemes are in place to improve oral health. 

Last year, a toothbrushing scheme was introduced at primary schools and pre-schools throughout the borough, providing thousands of children with access to toothbrushes and toothpaste. 

The scheme was launched to increase access to oral care for local children, after tooth decay was identified as the main cause of hospital admission among children aged five to nine.

Some schools have now extended the offer to other year groups.

Ms Hughes said: “The supervised toothbrushing scheme is not a replacement for brushing at home, but an evidence-based programme to improve oral health in children and give them the skills and knowledge to carry out this task at home.”

Children living in the most deprived communities are about three-and-a-half times more likely to have teeth out due to decay than those in the most affluent areas. 

Dental decay is often cited as the first sign of poor healthcare, the council added. 

As part of the council’s annual public health report, health officials have pledged to embed the supervised toothbrushing programme across all early years providers. 

Ms Hughes said staff are also working towards increasing the number of children cleaning their teeth correctly twice daily through a range of communications and oral health interventions.

“Improving oral health locally across the life course is a priority for us; we will take this work forward with partners and services,” she added.

What do you think about the figures? Have your say in the comments.

The Salvation Army is urging people to donate items by using the dedicated banks or taking them inside the centre

A charity has said it is “saddened” to see donations being left outside of its donation centre in a Cambridgeshire town. The Salvation Army Wisbech Donation Centre posted on social media calling for people to stop leaving items outside when the centre is closed.

Leaving items outside means they could be damaged and can no longer be used as donations. The charity then has to use its own money to remove the items meaning “less money” goes towards the Salvation Army’s cause.

In the post, it said someone had left a “mouldy, dirty, still-frozen fridge/freezer, a glass TV stand, and several bags of items”. Staff and volunteers also have to spend time away from sorting through donations to help clear up the fly-tipped items.

The charity is now urging people to stop fly-tipping outside of the centre and to donate items by using the dedicated banks or taking donations inside.

A Salvation Army spokesperson said: “We are saddened when donations are left outside out of hours. This is considered fly-tip as items left outside can be damaged and cannot be used for donations. These also cost us to clear up which means less money to our charitable cause and means our dedicated staff and volunteers are clearing these items up which takes valuable time away from sorting through donations and serving customers. We urge people not to leave items outside our store or clothing banks – fly tipping can lead to fines issued by local authorities.”

To get more news and top stories delivered directly to your phone, join our new WhatsApp community. Click this link to receive your daily dose of CambridgeshireLive content.

We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don’t like our community, you can check out any time you like. If you’re curious, you can read our Privacy Notice.

The application submitted is for a vacant unit formally occupied by Sports Direct

Plans submitted by Barclays bank could see a new branch open in a Cambridgeshire city centre. Barclays have submitted an application to Peterborough City Council for a vacant unit formally occupied by Sports Direct on Long Causeway.

The unit has been vacant since Sports Direct closed down late last year. Barclays currently has a bank open on Church Street in Peterborough.

The proposed plans, submitted on March 23, include alterations to the existing shopfront with a new Barclays Branch Exterior Shopfront design and refurbishment of the ground floor shopfront to reflect current Barclays branding. The planned works would not involve any extensions or significant structural alterations.

In a design statement, the applicant said: “The customer area will be located at ground floor level, providing a welcoming and accessible banking hall directly accessed from Long Causeway Street. This area will include customer service points and ATM facilities designed to support assisted and self-service banking functions.”

The statement continued: “Supporting accommodation such as staff workspaces, storage, and ancillary facilities are arranged on the first floor which is back of house (BOH). The layout has been designed to utilise the existing structural arrangement wherever possible in order to minimise intervention to the building fabric.”

A decision date has not yet been set.

In January this year, it was announced that the broadcaster had been diagnosed with cancer and was unable to walk.

The presenter had been undergoing treatment including chemotherapy, radiotherapy, physiotherapy and “a lot of scans and painkillers”, his friend and podcast producer Peter Everett shared.

Born in Rochdale, Kershaw – the brother of fellow broadcaster Liz Kershaw – grew up a fan of artists such as Bob Dylan and went to university to become a journalist.

So sorry to hear the passing of Andy Kershaw brill DJ RIP ANDY

— ericgreen (@ericgreen866) April 17, 2026

Kershaw was a familiar voice on Radio 1 for 15 years from 1985, known for his eclectic taste and for helping champion world music.

He went on to report for Radio 4, both on music and global conflicts, including the 1994 Rwanda Genocide.

On his broadcasting philosophy, he talked about how his mentor John Walters had influenced him, saying: “We’re not here to give the public what it wants. We’re here to give the public what it didn’t know it wanted”.

His distinctive take on life and humour could also be seen when he released a statement after learning of his cancer diagnosis.

Sorry to hear of the passing of English broadcaster and disc jockey, Andy Kershaw. Aged 66. Former presenter of The Old Grey Whistle Test, he co-presented BBC television coverage of Live Aid in 1985 #AndyKershaw #RIP 🥀 pic.twitter.com/PDVzX7CyR7

— Kenny (@kennylanglea) April 17, 2026

Saying he was in “good spirits”, he joked: “I am determined not to die before Benjamin Netanyahu, Vladimir Putin, Donald Trump and Ant’ n ‘Dec.

“That should keep me going for a while.”

Andy Kershaw’s autobiography

In 2012, he published an autobiography, titled No Off Switch, which detailed his improbable rise through UK media, including his work as a war correspondent.

“It’s an insatiable curiosity, basically, a nosiness,” he told The Independent that year of his approach to music and life.

“I think initially Radio 1 wanted another [John] Peel, but I got quickly bored of those awful, insipid demo tapes I was receiving from Liverpudlian indie acts, especially as I was beginning to discover properly fantastic, amazing music from Malawi, the Congo, South Africa.

“The way I saw it, this was music that would have an appeal way beyond the circle of African music aficionados.

“And the letters I received from enthusiastic listeners suggested I was right.”

So sad to hear this. Andy Kershaw was a brilliant broadcaster & brought so much joy to radio. A real loss. 💔

— Ezra Foster (@Ezr_Fst5) April 17, 2026

Tributes to Andy Kershaw

People on X started posting tributes to Kershaw after learning the news of his death.

One said: “So sad to hear this. Andy Kershaw was a brilliant broadcaster & brought so much joy to radio. A real loss.”

Another posted: “Sorry to hear of the passing of English broadcaster and disc jockey, Andy Kershaw. Aged 66.

“Former presenter of The Old Grey Whistle Test, he co-presented BBC television coverage of Live Aid in 1985”

Meanwhile, someone else commented: “So sorry to hear the passing of Andy Kershaw brill DJ RIP ANDY”.

The Lido has submitted a licence application to open for a variety of different events

Advertisement

A much-loved Peterborough landmark has submitted a premises licence application to offer more entertainment. The application for the Lido was made by Peterborough Culture, Heritage, Learning and Leisure to Peterborough City Council on March 30.

It requests permission for the Grade II listed open-air pool to host plays, films, live and recorded music, and dancing within its grounds from 6am to 11.59pm, Monday to Sunday.

While the licence application also makes a request to provide “late night refreshment” from 11pm to 11.59pm, Monday to Sunday, the application does not include requesting permission to be able to sell alcohol.

The application lists “Theatrical production, midnight swims, solstice celebrations, 12 & 24-hour swimming events, sound bath events and other evening events” as activities it hopes to put on after standard opening hours.

It also states that some seasonal events may also necessitate later opening times, and that “paranormal events may run until midnight”.

Over the last few years, the 90-year-old venue has hosted a run of al fresco evening shows by Peterborough Mask Theatre where audiences have enjoyed picnics while watching comedic Shakespeare performances.

In February, it announced it would be hosting Sound Bath sessions run by Synergy Body & Mind UK this June, July, and August. These sessions will offer participants the chance to be “gently guided by crystal bowls and therapeutic sound vibrations” while resting on double air mattresses on the water.

Anyone wishing to make representations concerning this application can do so by writing to the Licensing Section of Peterborough City Council at Sand Martin House by April 24, 2026.

FBI Director Kash Patel has threatened to sue over bombshell claims reported in a magazine profile that the Trump administration official is deeply paranoid about being fired and often drinks to excess, alarming officials at the law enforcement agency and beyond.

The alleged conduct, which Patel has called “false reporting,” has left officials alarmed about what would happen if the FBI was needed in a national crisis such as a terror attack.

“That’s what keeps me up at night,” one unnamed official told The Atlantic, which published the claims Friday evening.

The piece details a host of concerning incidents and allegations.

On April 10, according to the magazine, the director flew into a paranoid “freak-out” when faced with a technical issue with a computer system. The report claims Patel thought it was a sign he was being fired and he began calling aides and allies in a panic.

Word of the alleged meltdown reportedly spread quickly through Washington D.C. and the White House got calls about who was really leading the FBI, according to The Atlantic.

The most explosive allegations in the article are regarding Patel’s alleged excessive drinking.

The official is known to drink to the point of obvious intoxication at clubs in Washington and his home city of Las Vegas, according to the piece, violating FBI conduct standards and potentially leaving the nation’s top law enforcement official vulnerable to coercion or exploitation.

Early in his time leading the bureau, meetings had to be rescheduled to later in the day to accommodate his nighttime drinking, the report claims.

On multiple occasions, according to the outlet, Patel’s security detail had trouble waking him because he was seemingly intoxicated, and at one point a request went in for emergency “breaching equipment” normally used in SWAT raids and hostage situations.

Patel has vowed to sue over the claims in the article, which he and the FBI say are all false.

FBI officials and other Trump administration members have reportedly questioned whether alcohol factored into missteps by the director, including his claim shortly after the shooting of conservative activist Charlie Kirk that a “subject” was in custody, only for the individual to be released and a different suspect, Tyler Robinson, to ultimately be arrested.

The director’s drinking reportedly angered the president himself, who is sober and whose brother died from alcoholism-related health issues. President Trump called Patel after the director was seen chugging beer with members of the victorious U.S. Olympic hockey team to express his displeasure, according to the profile.

The Independent has contacted the White House for comment.

Patel, as well as the FBI itself, have characterized The Atlantic’s reporting as entirely false, and the FBI director has vowed to sue the magazine and reporter Sarah Fitzpatrick, the author of the article. Patel suggested in a social media post that the article met the high legal bar to qualify as defamation.

”See you and your entire entourage of false reporting in court,” Patel wrote on X on Friday. “But do keep at it with the fake news, actual malice standard is now what some would call a legal lay up.”

In his post, Patel attached an email from FBI communications official Benjamin Williamson to Fitzpatrick, which called the article “completely false at a nearly 100 percent clip” and alleged the FBI was only given about two hours to respond to the exposé’s numerous claims.

Erica Knight, an adviser to Patel, wrote on X that far from being an absentee leader, Patel has worked more days than his predecessors. Knight alleged that the magazine’s reporting was based on claims that “every real D.C. reporter chased, couldn’t verify, and passed on.”

Jesse Binnall, Patel’s attorney, called the article “categorically false and defamatory” in a post on X, and shared a letter he said he sent to The Atlantic before the story published.

The letter called the magazine’s reporting false and suggested it relied “solely on vague, unattributed sourcing” and did not allow enough time for the FBI to provide relevant information that would disprove its claims.

The letter suggested that the claim about breaching equipment being requested in case it was needed to reach Patel appeared to be based on “no corroborating public record” or “drawn from a single hostile and unreliable source.”

Binnall suggested the magazine’s reporting was similar to 2025 MSNBC claims that alleged Patel was spending too much time drinking, allegations that have prompted ongoing litigation.

Fitzpatrick, the Atlantic reporter, insists her story is entirely factual.

“I stand by every word of this reporting,” she told MS NOW on Friday.

Fitzpatrick added that the FBI is not a place where people are eager to leak to the press, so the volume of sourcing in her piece — which relied on more than two dozen interviews, including with current and former FBI officials — suggested real internal alarm about Patel’s stewardship of the bureau.

The allegations were all the more striking, she continued, because Patel has made it a mission to purge agents deemed disloyal or part of the anti-Trump “deep state,” and has made liberal use of polygraph tests on agents to identify suspected leakers.

“These are not the types of people who are willing to speak out outside of the FBI, especially right now,” Fitzpatrick added on MS NOW. “Because Kash Patel is going after people with polygraphs in a way that has never happened at the bureau. So for it to be this level of alarm, this is people genuinely concerned that America is in danger as a result of this conduct. I feel a real responsibility to take care of that reporting incredibly carefully.”

The Independent has contacted The Atlantic for comment.